They reached the main gate, set into sloping walls with no protection for the struggling Hazarans. The storm was of little value here, for the High Lord's elementalists could hurl fire at the foot of the gate and they were bound to strike someone. Some valiant warriors left their horses and, with knives between their teeth, began to scale the slanted walls. Most exploded in screaming flame, but a few made it to the top, giving the men below a few moments respite from the relentless fire.

Ella saw Shani holding a great fireball between her wrists, the biggest Ella had ever seen. Sweat dripped down the elementalist's forehead, and if she hadn't been wearing her protective robe, Ella knew her friend would have been scorched.

With a shout Shani launched the ball at the gate. Twisting and turning through the air, it made a sound like tearing paper as it flew at the centre of the dark wood.

Ella could see builder's runes on the gate, and knew what would happen next. The huge ball of flame fell apart in a flurry of sparks. The gate was scorched, but it held.

The Hazarans became crowded up against the gate, and soon it would be a massacre as the packed warriors proved themselves easy targets for the High Lord's elementalists. Realising the danger, the horsemen peeled to either side, some heading to the left and others to the right as they encircled the tiered city.

Prince Ilathor came forward. He dismounted from his horse and drew the huge scimitar he wore at his side. Ella watched open-mouthed as he called a series of runes, and the scimitar blazed with blue fire. Reading the colours, Ella knew only Alturan enchanters could have made such a sword, but it was a scimitar, a style of blade that was definitely not Alturan. She wondered how old it was, how long it had been in Ilathor's family. She wondered if the prince even knew.

Ella could predict what was coming next. The prince took the scimitar in two hands and swung at the gate. The sword that could cut through stone smashed against the gate that had been reinforced with the lore of House Torakon's builders.

Yet Prince Ilathor's sword bounced off the gate with a fountain of sparks as the enchanted blade met the strength of builder's runes, and the gate won.

With no siege weapons — no battering rams or mortars, scaling ladders or catapults — Ella realised the Hazarans still had much to learn about warfare. The prince needed her help.

"Prince Ilathor!" Ella called.

He looked back at Ella as she leapt off her horse's back.

"When the gate opens, hit it with everything," Ella said as she reached him.

The prince dodged a fireball. "What are you going to do?"

"Whatever I can," Ella said.